When Holidays Collide

It was raining, and Mini Meerkat said, "I think I need a rain jacket." She had okayed her new rain jacket several weeks before, but this was the first opportunity she had to wear it.

I dutifully fetched her new rain jacket from the closet and brought it to her.

"It's not Valentine's Day."

"What honey?"

"It's not Valentine's Day."

That was all she would say, but I quickly realized she found the heart motif on her jacket too seasonal. When we had purchased the coat it was still Valentine season.

"Do you want me to bring it back to the store and get a different one?"

"No, but it's not Valentine's Day."

I tried to reassure her that hearts were appropriate for spring, too.

"I need rain boots."

I knew what she was going to say next. Her rain boots sprung an untimely leak last fall, and the only boots I could find new in her size were seasonal.

"It's not Halloween."

"I know sweetheart, but these are your rain boots. I got these flowered ones if you want them instead?"

"It's not Halloween."

"Do you want to wear the flowered ones?"

"No, but it's not Halloween."

I was not able to produce a matching St. Patrick's Day rain set out of the ether, so in the end she wore her Easter dress (Easter dresses are her favorite, so that was worn without comment or complaint), Valentine (spring) rain jacket, and undeniably Halloween boots.